*Numbers 22:5-38
Balak, king of Moab, fearing the Israelites, tries to hire Balaam to curse them, but God forces Balaam to bless them instead.
- Balak’s Fear of Israel:
- Balak, the king of Moab, becomes fearful of the Israelites as they journey through the wilderness, seeing how numerous and powerful they are.
- He sends messengers to Balaam, a diviner, offering him a handsome reward to come and curse the Israelites, hoping to weaken them.
- God’s Response to Balaam:
- Balaam consults with God regarding Balak’s request, seeking divine guidance on whether he should go with the messengers.
- God tells Balaam not to curse the Israelites because they are blessed, and He warns Balaam not to go with the men or speak anything except what God commands him.
- Balaam’s Initial Refusal:
- Balaam refuses Balak’s messengers, informing them that he cannot go with them or curse the people because God has forbidden it.
- He advises the messengers to return to Balak and inform him of God’s refusal.
- Balak’s Persistent Requests:
- Balak sends more prestigious messengers, promising Balaam great honor and wealth if he agrees to come and curse the Israelites.
- Balaam, tempted by the promise of wealth and honor, seeks God’s permission again, hoping for a different answer.
- God’s Permission with a Condition:
- God permits Balaam to go with the men but warns him to speak only what God tells him.
- However, God is angry with Balaam’s decision, and an angel of the Lord stands in Balaam’s path as he travels with the messengers.
- The Angel’s Intervention:
- Balaam’s donkey sees the angel blocking the path and refuses to move forward, frustrating Balaam.
- Balaam strikes the donkey three times, and finally, God allows the donkey to speak, rebuking Balaam for his mistreatment.
- Balaam’s Encounter with the Angel:
- God opens Balaam’s eyes, allowing him to see the angel standing in the road with a drawn sword.
- The angel chastises Balaam for his disobedience and warns him that he can only speak the words God puts in his mouth.
- Balaam’s Submission:
- Balaam acknowledges his sin and offers to turn back if it displeases the Lord, committing to speak only the word the Lord gives him.
22:5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
22:9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? 22:10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 22:11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
22:12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
22:13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
22:14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
22:15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 22:17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
22:18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22:22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
22:26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 22:33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
22:36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
22:37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.